DIY part # for ABL (Pictures of Installation included!!!)

[STINGS]

Way to bright, and really, really directional. Needs to have more of a rounded edge to it, and need to diffuse the light a lot more. Polished the outside edge way to much. Will also make the center of the plexi deeper, will help with stiffening it up and mounting, so it will be less likely to work it's way back behind the applique. So on to version 2!

Joe

[NOVAK]

Originally Posted by TAG UR IT

Long story short, the back of the dash insert is designed to catch or hold the light pipe in place. If you grind down the back of that insert on the posts (where the metal clips hold the light pipe in place), then the light pipe will fit behind the dash insert perfectly to where the dash insert sits FLUSH against the dash. Then, the only way for light to emit or escape behind that insert is by sanding the back of the insert.

Well, if you don't grind down the back insert posts, then the light pipe pushes the insert out a whopping 1 to 2 mm....NOT noticable when looking at the dash. It sits absolutely fine and in place. There is NOTHING wrong with this and it sits really well. Towards the left side of the insert, it will sit in a tad more, so a tiny spacer needs to be put in push out the dash insert....which will make the light emit even across the dash. I'll show you all pix on my car when I get it back, but it looks GREAT.

The light from teh dash is no longer BRIGHTER than the doors. It's the same width as the doors and the same brightness.

Anyone can do this mod.

IT IS SIMPLE.

I could easily do this install in anyone's car in about 30 min now.

Again, I'll do the write up, but need the car back and the parts to show you all.

Don't sand anything. Don't cut anything.

Install the light pipe in the dash and don't drill. Just connect using aquarium tubing to the GM light (taken apart) to teh light pipe and let it sit in place. With that behind, toss on your dash insert and see for yourself. I think there's going to be a lot of people going back to the GM Parts counter to get the dash pieces reordered!!!lol

Will the light fully extend to the edges of the panels doing it this way?

[TJ91]

So guys, I got the passenger side done, not completely satisfied with it. It looks amazing from outside the car, ill post a pic in a second. But once you sit down it doesnt look soo great.
So im going to play with it a bit more to see if I can get it to look like this when inside the car, if not, ill be sanding the panels to match the doors.
Heres how she ooks right now, not finished with it yet.
Let me know what you guys think and if you guys have any ideas of how I can get it to look like this when sitting. This is exactly how it looks from when your stading outside the car with the windows down

It looks really good from outside

[overhaulengines]

hello TJ91, at the ends, do you have them taped off? i left my tape off the first time and the light was shining all out the cracks, i taped them and no extra light, just a straight line. i used some 1/4 weather stripping to hold the light tube in place and from sagging down, in doing so, the light tube stayed up and created the gap i wanted. looking good so far, just takes a little time to get it the way you want.

lupe

[TJ91]

Originally Posted by overhaulengines

hello TJ91, at the ends, do you have them taped off? i left my tape off the first time and the light was shining all out the cracks, i taped them and no extra light, just a straight line. i used some 1/4 weather stripping to hold the light tube in place and from sagging down, in doing so, the light tube stayed up and created the gap i wanted. looking good so far, just takes a little time to get it the way you want.

lupe

Hey Lupe, havn't taped it off yet, still need to tweak it. Definitly like the weather stripping idea. Going to try a few different things to see how I like it, if not, sanding it will be, either way, it will end up looking great

[STINGS]

Version 2, works much better. Made the plexiglass deeper in the center, and rounded the edge that sticks out between the trim and the dash pad. Not as bright as first attempt. (Still brighter than the door panels). Easily has a 120 degree of view. Took a picture from the back seat, through the passenger window, and the blurry one is with the camera sitting on the drivers seat. Now to make the little one for the other side. (Well, save that for tomorrow evening)

Joe

[Gene Culley]

Originally Posted by TJ91

So guys, I got the passenger side done, not completely satisfied with it. It looks amazing from outside the car, ill post a pic in a second. But once you sit down it doesnt look soo great.
So im going to play with it a bit more to see if I can get it to look like this when inside the car, if not, ill be sanding the panels to match the doors.
Heres how she ooks right now, not finished with it yet.
Let me know what you guys think and if you guys have any ideas of how I can get it to look like this when sitting. This is exactly how it looks from when your stading outside the car with the windows down
Attachment 224088
It looks really good from outside

It seems to me as if you have the tube angled in the not quite the optimal spot. Have you tried moving it?

[TAG UR IT]

Originally Posted by NOVAK

Will the light fully extend to the edges of the panels doing it this way?

It goes nearly the entire length. You might have 1/2 to an inch not lit up on each end.

[OmniCamaro]

Originally Posted by STINGS

Version 2, works much better. Made the plexiglass deeper in the center, and rounded the edge that sticks out between the trim and the dash pad. Not as bright as first attempt. (Still brighter than the door panels). Easily has a 120 degree of view. Took a picture from the back seat, through the passenger window, and the blurry one is with the camera sitting on the drivers seat. Now to make the little one for the other side. (Well, save that for tomorrow evening)

Joe

Hope I'm not stating the obvious but make sure you have your door ABL/dash lights turned all the way up. The doors look pretty dim.

[2SSRS@Gen5diy]

Joe do you have the second LED in the doors?

[STINGS]

Originally Posted by 2SSRS

Joe do you have the second LED in the doors?

Negative..... Kinda like the camaro swoosh the way it is!

Joe

[STINGS]

Went back to just one led on the passenger side, and drilled holes so both the passenger and driver side leds could be mounted behind the dash. (Required putting the leds back in the original holders, what a pain) Put the plexiglass behind the trim piece and really like the look. Lights up the plexiglass from end to end. To improve the brightness , polished up the passenger end of the light pipe, and put a plastic mirror inside of a threaded rod protective cover. Trimed the cover, and installed it on the end of the light pipe to reflect the light coming out the end, back into the pipe. Improves the brightness on the dim end by 15%. (Actually brighter with a glass mirror, just need to find one that is 1/4inch in diameter)

Joe

[TAG UR IT]

Damn...you did a lot of work on that

[stratman2SSRS]

I think I remember someone saying if you take the door panels off that there is a piece of tape stopping the light from coming through all the way to the dash. You know how it stops a few inches from the front of the door. Is that true?
Has anyone done it?